As festival season approaches, a new campaign is encouraging Glastonbury attendees to leave their cars at home and travel by train instead. This move aims to reduce road congestion and cut carbon emissions, offering a smoother, greener journey to one of the UK’s biggest music festivals.
The initiative, called I Came By Train, is supported by Trainline, the online ticket platform, and focuses on making rail travel an attractive alternative. With direct train routes to Castle Cary and nearby stations such as Taunton, Frome, and Bruton, festivalgoers have convenient access to Worthy Farm without the hassle of traffic jams.
Trainline reports that the last week of June 2024 saw a staggering 225% increase in rail travel to Glastonbury-area stations, and projections indicate even higher numbers for this year. Choosing the train over driving can reduce carbon emissions by up to 67%, which, if adopted broadly, could save hundreds of tonnes of CO2.
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On average, festival visitors travel about 122 miles. If just 10% more fans opt for rail travel, it could prevent approximately 543 tonnes of CO2 emissions, with each train journey cutting nearly 12kg of carbon output. Last year, the major rail arrivals came from London, the North West, and the South West.
This campaign aligns with a wider push for low-carbon travel, supporting the UK Climate Change Committee’s goal to boost passenger rail use by 30% by 2035. Notably, twenty Glastonbury artists have thrown their weight behind the effort, including Sam Ryder, Self Esteem, and Greentea Peng.
Self Esteem remarked, “I’m passionate about protecting the planet, so joining the ‘I Came By Train’ campaign was an easy choice. Small steps like this lead to bigger changes. I look forward to seeing everyone at Glastonbury!”
Greentea Peng added, “If taking the train means less pollution and less traffic for all of us, then count me in. All aboard the Glasto Express!”
Sam Ryder shared his excitement: “I’m buzzing to take the train with my band and crew this year for the ‘I Came By Train’ campaign. We’ll be playing games and saving the planet—what’s not to love?”
Natalie Marques, head of sustainability for I Came By Train, emphasized, “Music festivals are a vital part of UK culture. By traveling by train, festivalgoers can make a meaningful impact. This initiative turns good intentions into simple actions that benefit the environment. Every train trip brings us closer to a sustainable festival experience. We’re thrilled to see artists and fans united for this cause.”